Forging the sword (Nibelung) 1941

Nicholas Roerich, sometime in the 20th century, made this painting with, it looks like, oil on canvas. See how he's embraced the drama of dark against light? It's not about precision, but about the feeling of raw power and creation. The painting throbs with the heat of the forge. The colors are intense; that blazing orange leaps out, doesn't it? Then there's the cool blue of the metal being worked, a striking contrast. Roerich isn't hiding his brushstrokes either; you can feel the energy he put into each mark. Look at how he renders the flames – not with detail, but with thick, expressive strokes. It's as if the fire itself is alive. Roerich, with his mystical bent, might be a bit like Hilma af Klint, both chasing something beyond the surface of things. Ultimately, art is a conversation, an ongoing exploration, and there's always room for another voice, another vision.